Politicians not responsible for Nigeria’s problems – Rotimi Amaechi

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

Former Governor of Rivers State and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that politicians are not responsible for Nigeria’s problems, placing the blame instead on the docility of the masses.

Amaechi made these remarks on Thursday in Abuja at the 2025 National Social Cohesion Dialogue (NSCD) and unveiling of the 2025 NSCD Survey Report, themed “Rebuilding Citizens’ Trust and Public Confidence in Government and Public Institutions”, organised by the Africa Polling Institute (API) and sponsored by the Ford Foundation.

Amaechi argued that the elites, numbering fewer than 100,000, are not the primary issue, as Nigeria’s 200 million citizens have the power to challenge them but remain passive.

He stated, “The elites of Nigeria are not the problem of Nigeria, we are not up to 20,000 elites that are stealing Nigerian money. No problem, 100,000 elites, but you have 200 million Nigerians that can fight 100,000 men. You sit down in your house and you’re complaining. Why do you think that the elites would take their hands from what they are feeding on? When all you do is to sit down in your houses, grumble and organise one small lecture on how you’re feeling, who told you that the elite don’t know how you’re feeling?”

He further emphasised that the elites are aware of public discontent but exploit the masses’ inaction, saying, “They know how you’re feeling, they know you’re not happy. If they don’t know, you will not see them in their girlfriend’s house after six pm. You know why? Because they are running away from you. They are scared, but you are helpless not because the elites want you to be helpless, you make yourself helpless.”

Amaechi urged Nigerians to stop blaming the elites and take responsibility for their empowerment, asserting that politicians have proven worse than the military due to the public’s failure to hold them accountable.

Amaechi’s comments align with his recent criticisms of the political class and his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on July 1, 2025, after joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition. He has accused the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding to rig the 2027 elections, emphasising the need for a movement to empower Nigerians to take control of governance.

The Chairman of the event, former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, highlighted the importance of social cohesion for Nigeria’s democracy and good governance. He noted deep divisions along ethnic, religious, and economic lines, with a widening gap between the rich and the poor, stating, “The poor are getting poorer, and the rich are getting less compassionate.”

Fayemi called for a re-examination of Nigeria’s values and education system, which he believes fosters an elite class detached from the masses, and stressed the need to address the trust deficit in government and public institutions to promote transparency and accountability.

The Executive Director of API, Prof. Bell Ihua, presented the 2025 NSCD Survey findings, revealing that 83% of Nigerians have little to no trust in President Bola Tinubu’s government, 80% distrust the National Assembly, and 79% distrust the judiciary. These findings underscore the challenges of rebuilding public confidence in governance.

Dr. Sam Amadi, keynote speaker and Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, emphasised that nations are constructed through social imagination, stating, “All countries in the world have diversities, but what matters is how you turn diversity into an advantage.”